JuanL

Thanks so much, WisconsinFan.  That helps.  I wasn't sure about how you get to the area where you get the tram.  She would be OK waiting because she has a rollator with a seat.  I can always push her a little in it if it is too much walking.  She can also do 2-3 small steps.    I know my Mom can't do a bus, so I've written to Glory Tours that people have recommended on Cruise Critic to see about the type of transportation for a small group tour or options for a private tour.  No one answers.  But thanks again for all your information!

This may have been answered, but I can't find it in the search.   Harrison's Cave in Barbados seems like an easy and fun thing to do for an older person with mobility issues.  There is a tram -- which seems to start near or at the entrance.  Yet, both the cruise excursion and Glory Tours say it is not for people with knee problems or difficulty walking.  I would not take the cruise ship excursion because of the problem of getting on and off the high steps of a regular bus, so I can understand that.   However, if there is a small group van, or even a private tour, what, if anything would be a 'problem' for someone with mobility issues?  I would really like to take my elderly Mom.  She uses a rollator, but can hold on to me to take some steps to get on and off a tram.  For example, she went to Hershey, PA last year and was able to get on and off the tram with my help and the floor moving.  She can get to a seat in a theater holding on to me after parking her rollator.  Can anyone shed light on this?  Do you have suggestions?

Thanks again, Linda. Indeed the to/from the bus seems to be the main issue. If I'm going to do the ferry/bus trek, it would be for Chichen Itza! However, I wonder if there are bicycle taxis or something that could go from the ferry to tour bus area. I've heard they have the bike taxis on the pier, but don't know about downtown Playa del Carmen.

Thanks so much, Linda. My big concern is the bus hike to and from the ferry -- especially if we are having to rush. I'll have to really think if it is doable for her -- and maybe have a Plan B excursion if this doesn't pan out. She will be disappointed to miss Chichen Itza, but I know she will enjoy whatever we decide to do.

I could get information from independent tours just to have an idea of how rings are now, but I'm concerned about taking an independent tour when the time frame is so tight at the end of the day. Being stuck in line at the ferry at the end of day is NOT something I want to risk!!!

Thanks again for your quick and informative response!

I had the same question before booking this excursion on a cruise last year. I did take the excursion and they do get you back before onboard time. If I remember correctly, we were back at least 30 minutes before that time. I only wish we had more time to wander around on our own after the guided tour. Regardless, it was a great excursion and I would do it again.

I would like to take my Mom to Chichen Itza on the Royal Caribbean excursion (just so we don't miss the ship!). I'm sure she can get around AT Chichen Itza and the small steps leading up to the visitor's center.

My concerns and questions are:

• How far do you walk from the ship to the ferry?

• How far is the bus from the ferry once you cross the channel?

• Is it a mass rush to get to the ferry/bus or normal walking? Uphill or fairly flat?

She can walk fine as long as there are not a lot of regular steps or she has to walk very fast.

Once you get to Chichen Itza, do the buses park right near the entrance to the visitor's center?

I'm also curious about the bus. I know most tour buses have that giant first step which is hard for her. I have a little folding step-stool I can take to help. Any input?

Thanks for any response. She has wanted to see this since she learned about it in elementary school!

I would like to take my Mom to Chichen Itza on the Royal Caribbean excursion (just so we don't miss the ship!). I'm sure she can get around AT Chichen Itza.

My concern and question is about walking to the ferry, and walking from the ferry to the bus. How far is the ferry from the ship? How far is the bus from the ferry? Is it a mass rush or normal walking? She can walk fine as long as there are not a lot of regular steps or she has to walk very fast.

Once she gets to Chichen Itza, do the buses park right near the entrance to the visitor's center?

I'm also curious about the bus. I know most tour buses have that giant first step which is hard for her. I have a little folding step-stool I can take. Any input?

Thanks for any response. This is an old thread, so I'm not sure anyone is around to answer!

I did the Chichen Itza tour with the ship. The day went like this:

 

- got off the ship as soon as it was cleared, around 8am

- ferry over to Playa del Carmen - about 30 min.

- walked to buses, was given a bag lunch (not prepared by ship) and bottle of water

 

We want to do the Chichen Itza tour from the ship, even if it is very long. We know we won't see everything, but if we don't go, we see nothing of it! My Mom really, really wants to see it.

 

My questions are these:

Do you walk from the Royal Caribbean ship to the ferry dock? How far is it?

How far is the walk to the tour bus once you get OFF the ferry in Playa del Carmen?

 

Mom will do fine AT the ruins because she does not have to go walk to each individual ruin if she doesn't want to and it is all pretty flat. I think the worse walking will be getting to the tour bus from the ship! She walks fine, but if the group is rushing for a distance, that could be a challenge. Any input here?

I would love to get your new book, Richard. Is it PANAMA CANAL DAY: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO CRUISING THE PANAMA CANAL?

Thanks, Richard. I'll try to check that out further. How about the Embera Village? We were only considering the wheelchair for longer walking tours like Old Cartagena and Casco Viejo, but plan to do the Tortuguero Canals etc. with her just using her hiking stick -- and my arm as needed. She can use the stick on uneven ground.

I saw that you or someone said that even with bad knees, people can get up to the village and that they were used to having older people on the tours. She and I both are actually much more interested in that. We first balked when we read 'dugout canoes', but after seeing some photos online and a couple of videos, they seem quite doable.

The key might be the tendering. Do you know about how many steps from the ship to the tender -- more or less ?

Thank you for your quick reply, Richard. I've read many of your responses to other questions -- and the fact that many countries are not as prepared for accessibility.

I will indeed talk with Princess eventually, but I am concerned I will get someone who has never been there and is just reading out of a brochure or book! That's why I figured CruiseCritic members will give me a better picture of the real situation which I can then balance with what Princess tells me.

I have searched the forum, but can't find exactly what I'm looking for. We are going to do the partial transit in March. I'm going with my 85 year old adopted Mom. She still works part time, drives, does well. Occasionally, her knee hurts which slows her down more. However, usually she is pretty good. She walks slow, sometimes tires on a long walk, can do some steps if not too steep. For example, she could walk up 8-10 steps that are low, a few that are steep, but would not walk up to a second floor of a house. We plan to rent a collapsible wheelchair to use 'just in case' and for specific walking tours. She also has a collapsible hiking stick, if needed, for non-wheelchair times and extra balance over uneven ground. It's hard to determine if these tours will be doable because she is not confined to a wheelchair, so we don't need fully accessible tours.

PANAMA CITY - GATUN:

We are interested in the Princess tour to the colonial city of Panama, Miraflores Locks Center & Scenic Drive (PC1-115). Our thinking in this, and in Cartegena, is to take the wheelchair which she can push like a grocery cart and if she gets tired, I'll push her.

Questions:

1) Tendering: Are there steep steps going from ship to tender and will they take a fold-up wheelchair?

2) Can we take the wheelchair on the bus to Panama City and could I push her around on the tour, if needed? We would be willing to wait out anything that would be too complicated on the tour.

3) Princess says the Miraflores Visitors Center is not wheelchair accessible, but the Visitors Center website says all entrances are accessible. Anyone know what the actual situation is for people with some mobility issues?

ARUBA:

We plan to take the Island Highlights & Beach AUA-100. We don't plan to take the wheelchair on this tour because it seems that there is only limited walking. Any comments?

Question: At the final beach stop, is there some shade or umbrellas?

CARTEGENA:

We plan to take the Old City Walking Tour(CTG-380) -- everything is listed as wheelchair accessible, so I think we're good on this one.

PUERTO LIMON:

We are looking at the Tortuguero Canal/Banana Plantation tour (LIO-610). We are thinking to leave the wheelchair onboard in this one.

Question:

Is boat boarding easy for older people?

Is there significant walking at the banana plantation? (If so, would we have the same bus that takes us from the canals to the plantation and back to the ship so we could leave the wheelchair on the bus if we need it for the plantation? I'm hoping we don't need it at all here!

JAMAICA:

We are looking at Dunn's River Falls, Coyaba Gardens & Shopping -- which also has a wheelchair version, but it sounds like we should go on the regular bus since she is not confined to a wheelchair. Hope there is not too much shopping!

Question: Is there significant walking through the Gardens where we might need the wheelchair for longer walks?

I appreciate any comments from what you have experienced or observed! We are very excited about our trip and I just want to make sure we do things she can do and enjoy.

Dawn

I am interested in the Old Panama excursion. My Mom needs to take a wheelchair, but not use it all the time. She just uses it if walking a lot or quickly. Can walk up or down 5-6 steps at a time. Would the excursion you took work for a half walk/half wheelchair situation?